Trust

Welcome to this Special Issue of EuroScientist on: Trust !

There is no better time to revisit trust issues than during a lingering recession. In such period, trust is put to the most stringent test. And those with the decision making power in the publishing industry, the wider economy, politics and policy have yet to improve their relationship to those they are trying to impress, should they finally be awarded the share of the trust they are courting.

As an attempt to explain the various causes of the ebb and flow of trust, we first explore trust towards academic publishers. Specifically, we look at the attempts by academic publishers to restore trust among the scientific community by offering web-based technologies that offer tangible benefits to researchers. Besides, looking at another facet of the trust equation in publishing, we also focus on the international efforts to get all clinical results to be published—regardless of whether they are positive or negative.

In addition, we focus on the issue of trust towards institutions. A unique testimony from the president of the International Press Association in Brussels gives an account of the intense lobbying taking place there. Further illustrating the point, is an investigative piece exploring how multiple pressures from stakeholders and within the Commission have hampered the regulatory progress towards introducing greater transparency in legislating for products with nanotechnology components.

Getting one step closer to society, the issue of public trust in science is also explored. Ortwin Renn, risk guru from the University of Stuttgart, explains how effective risk communication strategies can help restore public trust in many areas of life. This piece is complemented by a perspective on how public perception of science’s ties to economic and political interests leads public mistrust in science. Finally, a contrasting opinion piece accounts of the fact that trust in science is no longer eroding in Europe.

And finally, don’t miss our editorial, which should give you food for thought to reflect on the nature of trust.

With 11 February marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, female physicists, engineers and computer scientists from CERN and from Fermilab share their experiences of building a career in science.

European science conversations by the community, for the community

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